Gun turret



Dec. 28, 1 948. c. D. KNOWLTON V V 2,457,242 v sun TURRET Filed. Nov. 30, 1944 r r'sheets-sneet 1 [r2 van 201 CutlerD. Knowhfon By his Attorney Dec. 28, 19431 D- KNOWLTON GUN TURRET Filed Nov. 30, 1944 In van tw Cutler D Knowlto By his W Dec. 28, 1948. c. D. KNOWLTON 2,457,242

' GUN TURRET ,Filed Nov. 30, 1944 17 Shets-Sheet s Inventor v Cutler ZlKnowlton 55 By/zz's Attorney iD ec. 28, 1948.

C. D. KNOWLTON GUN TURRET F iled Nov. 30, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 In ue man Cutler D. Knowlton 5% his Attori ay 1948- c. D. KNOWVLTON 2,457,242

, GUN TURRET Filed Nov. :50, 1944 17- sheets-sheet 5 Inventor Cutler-0.-Kn0w!t0n B his/lfliarney c. D. Known-0N 2,457,242 GUN' TURRET i7Shets-Sheet 6 is A ttbrn ey Inventor 'Cut'lerD. Knowlton 8% )i Dec. 28, 1948.

Filed Nov. 50. 1944 C. D. KNOWLTON Dec. 28, 1948.

1'7 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 30. 1944 ii @il my -t WWW 1. 0 v mK u DAM m h m Dec. 28, 1948. i c. D. KNOWLTON v 2,

GUN TURRET Filed Nov. 50. i944 I 17 She ets-Sheet 9 lnven my Cutlr D. lfnowlton Byhis Attorney c. D. KNOWLTON Dec. 28, 1948.

GUN IURRET 17' Sheets-Shet 10 Filed Nov. 30,- 1944 2: [HUBIITOP Cutler D. Knowlton B his'Attorney Dec. 28, 1948. c. D. KNOWLTON 5 GUN TURRET Filed Noir. 30, 1944 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 11' Inventor By S'A tt0rney Cutler D. Knawiion c. D. KNowL'roN 2,457,242

*Dec. 28, 1948.

GUN TURRET 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 A Filed Nov. 30. 1944 ttorn'ey invenfar' Cutler 0. Knowlton By his A Dec. 28, 1948.

c. D. KNOWLTON GUN TURRET l7 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Nov. 30, 1944 Inventor Cut ler D. An'oultan By his Attorney C. D. KNOWLTON GUN TURRET Dec. 28, 1948.

17 SheetS -Sheet 14 Filed Nov. 30, 1944 lnvemor CutlerD Knowlton By hLsAttorn ey A 1943- c. D. KNOWLTON 2, 5

GUN TURRET v '17 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Nov. 30, 1944 Q [mwmar 337 335 7 Cutler D. Knowlton By his Attarney Dec. 28, 1948.

C. D. KNOWLTON GUN TURRET 17 Sheets-Sheet 1'7 Fiied Nov. 50, 1944 7 lnuen tm Cutlerfl/(nowlton By hiS Attorney Fig. 19, a section on the line XIX-XIX of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20, a section on the line XX--XX of Fig. 17;

Figs. 21 and 22, enlarged sectional details on the lines XXI-XXI and X2QIXXII, respectively, of Fig. 17

Fig. 23, a similar View on the line XXIIIXX]II of Fig. 17; v

Fig. 24, a front elevation of the controls for the hydraulic mechanism;

Fig. 25, a partial top plan view of said mechanism;

Fig. 26, a section on the line XXVI-XXVI of Fig. 24;

Fig. 27, a front elevation of the gunners sight and its mounting;

Fig. 28, an enlarged section on the line XXVIIIXXVIII of Fig. 2'7, with the sight removed from the mounting;

Fig. 29, a detail in side elevation of the connections for the second mans lead-control, taken from the right of Fig. 28;

Fig. 3!), a broken sectional detail of the azimuth-locking plunger for the sight;

Fig. 31, a top plan view of the sight and the second mans control; and

Fig. 32, a perspective, especially showing the ammunition-supplying system, looking downwardly from the rear of the turret.

' Upon the horizontal top of a base II], which may be fixed in position or mounted for transportation, is secured a ring I2 (Fig. 2), about the periphery of which are gear-teeth I4, partly formed in an upwardly extending flange I6 of the ring. Within the flange, the ring has a horizontal surface I8 furnishing a track on which turns a table I9, having opposite extensions 20, 20. This table is stayed by inverted T-beams 2I, 2I (Fig. 11), welded to it and running across its sides and along opposite sides of the exten- 'sions. The table is supported upon the track by frusto-conical rolls 22, of which there may be four, separated from one another by 90. Each roll is rotatable about a spindle 24 extending between the depending arms of a bracket 26,

passing up through openings in the table-top and secured thereto by screws 28. The spindle is soinclined in the bracket-arms that the underside of the roll is horizontal to correspond to the surface of the track. The contour of the outer end of each roll at 30 is such that it makes full contact with the inner side of the flange I6, to

provide a bearing surface of considerable area holding the table against lateral displacement upon the base. areas of contact by outward adjustment of three of the brackets 26. For this purpose the screws '28 may pass through openings 32 in the body of the bracket elongated radially of the table. With these screws loosened for any of the rolls, said roll may be shifted outwardly by an inclined push-screw 34, threaded through a depending outer flange 36 upon the bracket and engaging a shoulder 38 on the table-top. 'A protective skirt 4!] is welded to the edge of the table, extending below the plane of the gear I4, and from this skirt directly adjacent to the gear, a horizontal flange 42 is attached and projects below the gear. Between the flange and the ring I2, a packing strip 43 may be interposed to exclude dust from the rolls, track and gearing. The large opening at the center of the ring I2 is closed by a frusto-conical plate 45 and a casing 41 which it supports, the casing containing a collector Play may be taken up at these device C through which connections for the various electrical devices of the turret are carried.

Rising from the extensions 20, 20 of the table, and being upwardly and outwardly inclined, are two pairs of hollow pedestals 44, 46, the pedestals of each pair being spaced from each other transversely of its extension and the pedestal 44 being the wider of I the pair. Each pedestal near its upper extremity carries bearings 48, and in these bearings of each pair of pedestals is rotatable a horizontal shaft 50 (Figs. 5, '7 and 9). Within each pedestal a roll is fastened to the corresponding shaft. Three of these rolls, as that desighated as 52 in Fig. 5, have cylindrical peripheries, while the fourth roll 54 is grooved. Upon these rolls, at each side of the table, rest circumferential projections or tires 56, 56 at the opposite sides of the turret-proper T. The grooved roll retains the turret against displacement upon its support, while the fact that the other rolls have no lateral restraining effect allows the rotation of the turret to continue, even if it has become considerably deformed in action.

The turret is in the form of a drum having a 4 cylindrical wall 58 (Fig. 2) and opposite vertical walls or heads 66, 60, these walls being welded together. and the tires welded to both the cylinder and the heads. Access is had to the interior of the turret and the occupants given an opportunity for scanning, by an opening at the top of the turret in an upward extension 62 from the side and circumferential walls. The opening may be wholly or partially closed by three covers. One, designated as 64, is hinged at the rear and manipulated through an arm 66 extending from it downwardly and rearwardly (Fig. 2), and latched up, when desired, by a spring-plunger 61. Two forward covers 68, 68 are hinged at opposite sides and have upon their upper faces handles 69 by which they may be thrown back. There is an opening 10 in the front wall of the extension 62, and at the rear of this opening is mounted the sight S, which directs the fire of guns G carried by the vertical walls of the turret. The support of the tires upon the rolls permits the turret to turn on the table to difierent angular positions in a vertical plane, thus providing for variation in elevation of the guns, while the rotation of the table I9 on the base I6 allows for changes of the guns in azimuth. Two guns, as shown in Fig. 1, are carried on each of the heads 60 by a shield or housing 'II attached to the outer face of the head over a large opening therein, it forming, in efiect, a portion of said head.

i In elevation, the turret is turned by frictional engagement of the supporting rolls 52, 54 with the tires. The roll-shafts 50 are driven by hydraulic mechanism and connecting gearing situated within the wider pedestals 44. It is to be noted that the separation between the rolls of the supporting pairs at each side of the turret bears such a relation to the diameter of said turret,that the center of rotation is low, the tires running in proximity to the top of the table I9. This increases the stability of the mounting and the driving effect of the rolls upon the turret, the latter because of the large horizontal component of the turret-weight acting against the rolls. It may be desired to secure the turret T against rotation upon its supporting rolls, as when it is to be transported. For this purpose, there is mounted on the outer wall of each of the pedestals 44 and 46 a plate 12 (Figs. 1 and 7), arranged for movement toward and from the turret by virtue of its attachment to the pedestal plate i'35 (Fig. 8).

by screws 14 passing through slots E15, in a substantially radial direction with respect to the turret. Angular ends of the plates extend over the inner circumference of the tires 56, where they project beyond the heads .fifl'of the turret. Into clamping engagement with the tires the plate-ends may be drawn by pull-screws l1, turning in lugs is upon the pedestals and threaded into lugs 79 on the plate. Normally, the screws are adjusted to position the plate-ends out of contact with the tires. But when the turret is to be fixed against rotation upon its rolls, with the screws I4 loosened the screws 11 are turned to force the plater-ends against the tires, after which the screws 14 are tightened.

The means for turning the table 19, and with it the turret T, about a vertical axis is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Meshing with the gear [4 is a pinion 80 fast upon a vertical shaft 82, rotatable in bearings upon the forward extension 2.0 of the table. On the upper extremity of this shaft within a housing 84, a worm-wheel :85 issecured, this meshing with a worm 8.8 fixed to a horizontal shaft 9t rotatable in a bracket 92 attached to the top of the table. At 94, the shaft 90 is joined to the shaft of an hydraulic motor 96, mounted upon the housing .84. This motor, and others to be described later, .receive pressure from a pump 98 (Fig. 2) driven by an electric motor and exhausting to a tank L00. These elements are contained in a housing 102 upon the extension at the rear of the table. The hydraulic mechanism is not a part of the present invention and need not be described in detail. Upon such occasions as when repairs are being made, it may be desired to rotate the table 19 manually. For this purpose, the shaft en carries a pinion HM, and there may be brought into en.- gagement with this a pinion I06 on the elongated shaft of a hand-crank I08. The inner end of this crank-shaft may be inserted in a bracket 1 Iii upon the housing 84, and then the pinion Hi5 lowered into mesh with the pinion 404, the outer portion of the shaft entering .a groove in a bracket H2 attached to the housing. "In this bracket the shaft may be retained temporarily by a cotter-pin. Collars i 14, H4 upon-the shaft contact with the brackets to determine the meshing of the pinions. Rotation of the crank will,

through the gearing I06, 404,138,.86, 8.0 and 14,

turn the table and, therefore, the turret in azimuth.

For the rotation of the turret in elevation, power is applied simultaneously to the tires 56, 56 by driving mechanisms contained in the dia onaliy disposed pedestals 44, 44. These mechanisms are of the same character, and but one need be described. Referring to Figs. 5;7, 8 and 9, each shaft 50 has secured to it within the pedestal a gear izii, meshing with a pinion 1.22 on a counter-shaft :zs journaled in the casing. A. gear H26 on this counter-shaft is driven by a pinion E28 on the shaft of an hydraulic motor 130, attached to the pedestal. The motors for both shafts 50 are driven by the pump 98, previously mentioned. To allow each of the motors E31} to be adjusted vertically to establish the correct relation of the pinion .128 to the gear 525, as appears in Fig. 9, the motor extends through an opening H32 in a wallet-the pedestal 44 and in a spacer 134, and is secured to aplate I36, which is attached by screws 1-38 to the pedestal-wall. The screws Ifit openings in the spacer and pass through verticalslots 4-4-0 :-in the 0n loosening the screws, the

plate, and the motor L30 which it carries, may. be adjusted vertically, desired. Manual tion of the turret elevation may be eiilepgd through a handec-rank 14:2. geared to the seal! [2.6 of one of the two, driving me h mm- Mounted .i-n the corresponding pedestal M is; is. horizontal tube M4, within the outer f nd {of which is a bearing sleeve 1! 45. There may e mser-ted through this sleeve a shaft 5,45 or the crank 1.42, this shaft having a reduced ndr in which is a pinion I50, of such diameter thatit will pass through the sleeve and come into with the gear 1.26. When such meshing been established, the shaft may be maintained in the proper longitudinal position :by a spring-actuated latch-pin 152 (Fig. 10). engaging the inner end of the sleeve when the hub of the crank .com wl'efi. with the outer end. By this crank, the tun-ct may be turned to the desired position b horizontal axis. An inclined surface l5 the inner end of the sleeve engages (the latch, causing this to yield when the crank is toil}? removed.

Thereappears in Fig. 2 means for "the eleva'tionail travelof the turret in both directions. so this may not pass the desired angle. when the movement is clockwise, .a nameplate 5 55.6 acts on a lever 1 58, iulcrumed on the forward table.- extension .20, to gradually close a valve i551 033: trolling the hydraulic presence to the motors 1 3.0. and finally to shut off .such pressure. For moire.- ment the opposite direction, .a camrplate 51.5.9 engages the same lever to produce the same reflect. Should this control fail, wedges 4M, $62 fixed zto the tires 56 engage the supporting rolls v5 2 tolstop positively movement in both directions.

In event of the pump 98 or its motor means .is provided whereby the occupants .of the turret may still operate the hydraulic motors 85. and to turn the stable I59 and the drum thereon, and, .as will hereinafter appear, perish-m another operation, using in part the sameimecha nism. Extending .across the lower portion of the drum is a spindle r64 (Figs. 2, 4 and 12)., about which two sleeves 1-56, Hi5 may Fixed an each sleeve is .2. depending arm i158, temrinating in a :loop ili'lifl forming a trea'dle. Attached to each arm I .68 a block 4-712, to which .is pivoted "the rod of the plunger .of a torceepump .115

mounted upon the wall .58 of the turret. Each treadle-arm and its pump-plunger retracted by .a tension-spring .l 11. 8 connecting the arm :to a wall $641 of the turret. By disconnecting the pump as dram the hydraulic motors and working the trea-dleearms, .sufficient pressure may l'bfi applied to the motors to :turn the .table and the drum.

The turret accommodates two :men to ;control the hydraulic mechanism which vturns .the iii .and the .to direct the .fire of the guns and to operate and service said "iliihe gunner occupies a chair C, whichis arrangedior ready movement between .two positions, respectively, forscanning and firing. ThisohairfisabeSt shown :inFigs. 2,11 3, 14 .and 11-5 of the drawings Extending across the turret between :the turret.- walls 611, :60 a lower bracket .1130, and project.- ing from one .of said walls an upper bracket 1152. Attached :to thesehra-ckets isthe hack of the chair. Guided for movement between th brackets and .cleats .4186 attached :to them isual slide -,'l:88,. ron the angul-arlower extremity sic-which. is lie-stoned a .seat .490 for the chair. gsuppotted .atitsiends in the brackets :aadiacent tonneef glee wallsififliisaa stationa y screw 3' iii-end .=5 Q id: .ing aheiscrewzis amend-nut :9 From s3 gent-ital 

